'I wear a face covering......

[Deeranged]

Deeranged, you know that Islay is very precise in his language. Not all his posts fall into the categories that you describe as "constantly whingeing" and I think you will agree.

When he's talking about his island home (although it seems he maybe lives in Dundee now) the complaining and whinging sounds pretty constant to me.

Often his posts are not whinges though. Often they're self opinionated claptrap with little or no substance to back the opinions he states outside of 'in my opinion'.

[Taintedice]

no, my bad. should have made clear that at the next election if Scotland returned all Labour MP's I would expect that the new Westminster government would be formed by Labour. don't think Labour can win on their own and as someone who is not convinced by the independence argument I think it might be better to have a Labour majority government rather than a coalition of Labour and SNP, especially as the SNP would always be looking to make the case that whatever decisions are made they are not as good as could have been made if Scotland were independent.

The SNP shouldn't be contesting another Westminster election, that would mean they've failed to secure another referendum and are still pointlessly chasing it, or the referendum result was the same as last time. Holyrood will be essentially dissolved by the tories in the next couple of years anyway so struggling to see the SNPs role if enough British Scots prefer direct rule from Westminster and a rollback to Thatcherism, on steroids. Can't see labour being elected to WM for another decade, unfortunately.

[Returnofrros]

The SNP shouldn't be contesting another Westminster election, that would mean they've failed to secure another referendum and are still pointlessly chasing it, or the referendum result was the same as last time. Holyrood will be essentially dissolved by the tories in the next couple of years anyway so struggling to see the SNPs role if enough British Scots prefer direct rule from Westminster and a rollback to Thatcherism, on steroids. Can't see labour being elected to WM for another decade, unfortunately.

What does thatcherism on steroids mean in a practical sense.

Any examples?

[BCram]

The SNP shouldn't be contesting another Westminster election, that would mean they've failed to secure another referendum and are still pointlessly chasing it, or the referendum result was the same as last time. Holyrood will be essentially dissolved by the tories in the next couple of years anyway so struggling to see the SNPs role if enough British Scots prefer direct rule from Westminster and a rollback to Thatcherism, on steroids. Can't see labour being elected to WM for another decade, unfortunately.

I am not sure that I can agree with your analysis. Suppose the SNP do not gain an outright majority at Holyrood and the reason is because there has been an upturn in the traditional Labour vote. If that upturn had been won by a British/Scottish Labour party then perhpas the people of Scotland understand that now is not the time for Scottish independence. Who is to say that they will be wrong if they make that choice?

I am also surprised that you think the current Conservative party is desperate to return to Thatcherite policies. The Labour voters who turned towards Boris and away from Jeremy Corbyn had reasons for making that choice. They lent their vote to Boris and if he fails to deliver stable and better living standards then I would expect them to revert to a traditional Labour offer from Keir Starmer. Tony Blair moved the Labour Party away from some of their socialist values and into a more central position. Starmer might easily do the same having seen how poorly the Corbyn message was received.

I think Boris does not have the same challenges facing him that Thatcher had to deal with so I am not sure that there is much to learn from her approach. The key is will Brexit work out in our favour once Covid is no longer such a big issue. The doubts and worries I have about this outcome are much less than the doubts I have about Scotland seeking independence before we see how things pan out after Brexit.

[islaydarkblue]

The SNP shouldn't be contesting another Westminster election, that would mean they've failed to secure another referendum and are still pointlessly chasing it, or the referendum result was the same as last time. Holyrood will be essentially dissolved by the tories in the next couple of years anyway so struggling to see the SNPs role if enough British Scots prefer direct rule from Westminster and a rollback to Thatcherism, on steroids. Can't see labour being elected to WM for another decade, unfortunately.

Yesterday the SNP MPs at Westminster took part in a debate and vote regarding the provision of free school meals in England during school holidays. (Source They work for you email alert).
Free school meals in Scotland comes under the control of the Scottish Government via their local authorities.
These SNP MPs are undermining the spirit of the West Lothian Question. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Lothian_question

[BCram]

Yesterday the SNP MPs at Westminster took part in a debate and vote regarding the provision of free school meals in England during school holidays. (Source They work for you email alert).
Free school meals in Scotland comes under the control of the Scottish Government via their local authorities.
These SNP MPs are undermining the spirit of the West Lothian Question. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Lothian_question

I think if they vote for expenditure funded by Westminster it has an effect on the funding available for Scotland and maybe even a Barnett Boost?

[Taintedice]

What does thatcherism on steroids mean in a practical sense.

Any examples?

Privatisation of everything that's still in public ownership. Everything. Areas which don't vote tory will be starved of investment, end to free tuition fees, no more free buses for islay to freeze on, introduction of fees to see your GP, endless list of misery ahead. Starting with shortages in January thanks to brexit.

[Returnofrros]

Privatisation of everything that's still in public ownership. Everything. Areas which don't vote tory will be starved of investment, end to free tuition fees, no more free buses for islay to freeze on, introduction of fees to see your GP, endless list of misery ahead. Starting with shortages in January thanks to brexit.

Are the SNP not refusing the UK Govts attempts at investment already?

Privatisation is no bad thing, I'd have the railways back under public ownership though.

It's the Scottish Govt that provide the ridiculous subsidised buses....it ain't free.

I'd be quite happy to pay for a GP if I could get an appt when I wanted one.

Are you talking food shortages, medicine shortages, fuel shortages?....Brexit and the conservative party who arnt really conservative seem to get blamed for an affy lot.

[Taintedice]

I am not sure that I can agree with your analysis. Suppose the SNP do not gain an outright majority at Holyrood and the reason is because there has been an upturn in the traditional Labour vote. If that upturn had been won by a British/Scottish Labour party then perhpas the people of Scotland understand that now is not the time for Scottish independence. Who is to say that they will be wrong if they make that choice?

You appear to be disagreeing with my analysis by agreeing with it. For whatever reason, if independence parties do not achieve a majority in HR21, then the SNP should call it a day and rebrand as a party of devolution, which is what they want to do anyway, if truth be told. It won't be because of an upsurge in labour vote, though, it'll be because the BBC propaganda machine has succeeded in making Douglas Ross a credible figure. He's never off the BBC at the moment, even though he has no part to play in devolved government. But if labour do make a resurgence based on people not wanting independence, then that's perfectly fine as well. It'll just never happen.

I am also surprised that you think the current Conservative party is desperate to return to Thatcherite policies. The Labour voters who turned towards Boris and away from Jeremy Corbyn had reasons for making that choice. They lent their vote to Boris and if he fails to deliver stable and better living standards then I would expect them to revert to a traditional Labour offer from Keir Starmer. Tony Blair moved the Labour Party away from some of their socialist values and into a more central position. Starmer might easily do the same having seen how poorly the Corbyn message was received.

I never said the current lot want to return to Thatcherite policies, just that they'll be far worse for the country than Thatcher was. I don't know if you pay much attention to polling, but the tories are still well clear of labour in England, and after all the cronyism and corruption going on in clear sight, that doesn't say much for Starmer. As for comparisons, the current regime in Downing St is run more like the politburo in Russia than any of Thatcher's cabinets. She had some real heavyweights in there, Johnson has a bunch of nomarks who will do what they're told. Couldn't be further removed from Thatcher. Thatcher also supported the EU and single market fwiw.

I think Boris does not have the same challenges facing him that Thatcher had to deal with so I am not sure that there is much to learn from her approach. The key is will Brexit work out in our favour once Covid is no longer such a big issue. The doubts and worries I have about this outcome are much less than the doubts I have about Scotland seeking independence before we see how things pan out after Brexit.

If there is to be a second referendum, it won't be till late 2022, that'll give people more than enough time to see what their preference is regards being in charge of their own affairs or trusting criminals with their children's futures.

[Taintedice]

Yesterday the SNP MPs at Westminster took part in a debate and vote regarding the provision of free school meals in England during school holidays. (Source They work for you email alert).
Free school meals in Scotland comes under the control of the Scottish Government via their local authorities.
These SNP MPs are undermining the spirit of the West Lothian Question. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Lothian_question

Is that all you take from the tories, including Scottish tory MPs, voting against feeding English children? The SNP were heavily criticised last month for not voting on the labour amendment to enforce the government to act on the provisions of the fire safety bill which would have compelled certain actions when it came to rented accomodation, as it only impacted on E&W. Damned if they do, damned if they don't.